looks like man utd will probably be getting antonio valencia. not my top choice, but hes a good player. we will see if the deal goes through tho

6/12/2009 4:05:20 PM

LET'S PLAY SWERVE OR SIGN!

6/12/2009 4:29:26 PM

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jun/16/real-madrid-player-clearout



HUNTELAAR FOR SALE


BUY UNITED, BUY BUY BUY!!!!!!1

6/16/2009 10:16:20 AM

19 mil for Johnson...

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

6/16/2009 10:28:24 AM

lol epic dutch clear out

6/16/2009 11:26:23 AM

19 Million for Glen Johnson is TOO MUCH.

6/16/2009 5:23:40 PM

^ I totally agree, but I think part of that is the 7 mil they were still owed from the Crouch sale last year

Not many first choice attacking right backs available though, so I guess they had to overpay if they wanted him. I personally don't see how he's much of an upgrade over Arbeloa but I dunno. It would be one thing if money were no issue for Liverpool, but 19 mil is A LOT for them and that'd be a shame if it means they'll have to go mediocre with their next signing instead of getting a legit starter at the left wing position.

6/16/2009 6:06:01 PM

well he does provide cover at RB, which from what I recall lolverpool need, but that's only if they manage to hang on to Arbeloa... I've heard from quite a few places that he's on the list of the "chosen" for Real's spending spree.

6/16/2009 6:38:51 PM

johnson is good tho, and the deal will probably only be around 11 since theyre still owed 7 mil from crouch. he was in the team of the year last year, hes english, and only 24. i doubt theyll get much better of a right back for 11 mil.

6/16/2009 6:39:41 PM

yeah that's what I'm saying..

19 seems a bit much, 11 is a lot more reasonable for a starting English RB. Hell, in this transfer climate, some might consider that a steal (I don't but some might)

If it were between Arbeloa/Tevez or Villa... or ... Johnson/somebody Babel-esque though.... I think this is a mistake. Maybe Liverpool is thinking that Madrid is going to get their targets no matter what, and if they already have a RB, they can wait it out a little longer and hope Madrid overpay to get Arbeloa.

[Edited on June 16, 2009 at 6:45 PM. Reason : kind of confusing the first way]

6/16/2009 6:43:59 PM

This Real Madrid spending spree is a ticking time bomb.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hKl4lV35Z-qFein7DC8gmoRb7kjg

and also, unlike Madrid, Man U wants resale value for their guys:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jun/17/manchester-united-transfer-policy

A much more responsible spending strategy for United. And now Madrid is gonna be trying to dump all their dutch players and others for chump change. Bad business.

[Edited on June 17, 2009 at 2:15 PM. Reason : .]

6/17/2009 2:10:41 PM

madrid is going to get exposed over this eventually...you just dont have that much money to freely spend in soccer, otherwise we wouldve seen this years ago...im hoping there is some dirty dealing going on and that it flushes them down the shitter

6/17/2009 2:14:41 PM

For the record I probably dislike Man U more than Real Madrid as far as the game goes.

But this spending is really just bad for everybody. It's going to hike transfer fees in a period where if anything they should be dropping.

6/17/2009 2:20:02 PM

More on Johnson. I dont like the total price of 18 but given Crouch (7) and Arbeloa (8? to madrid) he really is not going to cost us that much out of our pocket. I like him, hes young, and Carra doesnt want to kill him yet, unlike arbeloa. Also, considering Kuyt tracks back so well, I like that we have an attacking RB who can overlap.

Going forward, I think the priorities are:
second striker (lavezzi, tevez, saviola, etc)
left wing (silva, downing, etc)

6/17/2009 6:13:42 PM

See, this is where I disagree -


I think even agreeing to write off (which is essentially what is being done, right?) the 7 million they're owed for Crouchy('s having his nachos) in the 18 million sum is extremely bad business.

Glen Johnson is not worth 18 million quid, in any form or fashion. 14 would be pushing it.

What happens with this, is that if and when Lolverpool decide that Johnson doesn't fit the mold, and isn't the player they need, offloading him costs them MORE money because of the stigma that he couldn't fit in at a big 4 club.

6/17/2009 9:15:24 PM

What were the terms of that 7 million owed to Liverpool? Was it tied to a future player transfer or what, I haven't been able to find anything other than "Pompey owed them"


Basically, Rafa knows damn well he can't keep Alonso, Masch, Gerrard, and Torres together for much longer. Looking at the other big 4 - I think Rafa realizes that if this group of players is going to win a title, next year looks to be their best chance... so I guess he, and the owners, are willing to overpay to get the guys they want.

6/17/2009 9:27:06 PM

and they will go the way of Leeds if they overpay to try and win...

lol i doubt it would ever get that bad but seriously they messed themselves up bad because of money

6/17/2009 9:30:14 PM

they being Leeds or Liverpool?

6/17/2009 9:32:58 PM

well lets see, leeds are in league one cause of the money problem...

liverpool are in the premiership who just barely missed out an epl title...

lol who do you think i meant by they???



i personally dont think liverpool needs much change....you only lost the title cause you fired up ferguson, that rant benitez went off on cost them the title...it happened before when keegan went nuts on ferguson and then blew the title.

lolverpool have the pieces as long as gerrard and torres stay healthy. benayoun should play a lot more and kuyt is the 3rd best on the team. you got a good keeper...true you need to get some wingbacks but good ones are hard to come by....

[Edited on June 17, 2009 at 9:49 PM. Reason : f]

6/17/2009 9:46:22 PM

LESSER FUNDED LIVERPOOL

6/17/2009 9:48:52 PM

^^ I was just making sure you weren't implying Liverpool were headed down the same path, you know with all the financial doom and gloom released in the past few weeks regarding the club


yeah, Liverpool doesn't really need to add much except for a few pieces, which is why overpaying for somebody that fits their system isn't THAT big of a deal. I mean, they did do the champions 4-1 in their own house this past year... although they might have trouble scoring that 4th pile-on goal next season with Dossena on his way out

6/17/2009 9:56:00 PM

is it time for 2009/2010 thread

fixtures released today

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=655380&sec=england&cc=5901

6/17/2009 10:06:39 PM

lol sure why not. i can make it

6/17/2009 10:08:19 PM

last

6/18/2009 12:22:42 AM

West Bromwich Albion

6/18/2009 12:36:06 AM

shit I just saw the new thread

[Edited on June 20, 2009 at 1:08 PM. Reason : .]

6/20/2009 1:07:49 PM